NH1 News

Estonians vote in parliamentary election amid security fears

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) Estonians are voting for a new Parliament in an election dominated by economic issues and security concerns due to Russia's intervention in Ukraine.

Opinion polls ndicate a close race between the Baltic nation's governing center-right coalition, led by Prime Minister Taavi Roivas' Reform Party, and the opposition Center Party, which is favored by the country's ethnic Russians. The ruling coalition holds 52 of the 101 seats in Parliament.

Even though Estonia is a NATO member, many are worried that Moscow may try to boost its influence in the country, a former Soviet republic where one-fourth of its 1.3 million residents are ethnic Russians.

All the main political parties favor robust defense spending and a strong presence of NATO forces but the Center Party favors a friendlier approach to Moscow.